CRAIG Hinton is convinced Kidderminster Harriers can rekindle their Nationwide League Division Three play-off hopes -- by beating table-toppers Hartlepool United at Aggborough on Saturday.

Harriers' bid to secure a top seven spot have slipped recently with only two points being gained from their last four outings.

But influential de-fender Hinton be-lieves his side can return to winning ways against Hartlepool where they lost 2-1 in November.

He said: "We can beat them if we play like we did in the second half when we were all over them. We absolutely annihilated them second half, so we've got to play for the whole game like that against them on Saturday."

Harriers trailed 2-0 inside the opening 15 minutes at Hartlepool, but gave the leaders some anxious moments during the second period in which Sean Parrish pulled a goal back in the 47th minute.

With home draws against Shrewsbury Town and Swansea City and defeats at Lincoln City and Macclesfield Town in their last four outings, Kidderminster find themselves in 11th place in the table, three points away from a play-off spot.

Hinton, however, is confident they can still secure a top seven position.

He said: "We have got seven games left now and we have just got to give everything to get into the play-offs. A few of the other results have gone for us recently but that's only going to happen for so long, so we have got to dig in and do our best.

"I don't think it matters about performances now, it's about points. We have got to give it our all. We have nothing to lose.

"No-one expects us really to do any good, so I think there's no real pressure on us. If we had had wins in our last four games we would have been right up there. We'd have been in third place. We've just got to get back to winning ways and it's doesn't really matter about performances."

Hinton believes that tiredness could be a factor in Harriers recent dip in form.

He said: "There's a lot of players who have played a lot of games, but with seven matches to go it doesn't really matter whether you are tired or not. The goal to get to the play-offs should just push you on."